Cell
The present invention relates to a cell comprising a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a constitutively active or inducible Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) molecule.
1. A cytolytic immune cell which comprises a CAR and an inducible Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) molecule,
wherein
(a) the STAT molecule comprises a first polypeptide comprising a first dimerizing domain (DD) and a second polypeptide comprising a second DD, which second DD specifically binds to the first DD; and wherein the presence of an agent causes dimerization of the first and second DD and induces activation of the STAT molecule, or
(b) the STAT molecule comprises a first polypeptide comprising a first dimerizing domain (DD) and a second polypeptide comprising a second DD, which second DD specifically binds to the first DD; and wherein the presence of an agent causes dissociation of the first and second DD and induces non-activation of the STAT molecule.
2. A cell according to claim 1 (a), wherein the first DD comprises FRB and the second DD comprises FKBP12 and the agent is rapamycin.
3. A cell according to claim 1 (b), wherein the first DD comprises Tet Repressor Protein (TetR) and the second DD comprises Transcription Inducing Peptide (TiP); and the agent is tetracycline, doxycycline or minocycline.
4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 1 .
5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 for use in treating and/or preventing a disease.